Getting to know Spokane's Jared Cowen

When the Spokane Chiefs came to town Saturday, Jared Cowen was patrolling the blue line.

The 2009 first-round (9th overall) draft pick of the Ottawa Sentors spent the first part of the season in Ottawa, where he played one game. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman was sent back a few weeks ago with the explanation that they had too many D-men on the roster.

"It was a short conversation," Cowen said of his dismissal.

Now that he's back in Spokane, the Chiefs have flurished with their veteran D-man back in the lineup, but it took the 19-year-old from Allan, Saskatchewan, time to adjust his game back to the WHL level.

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"It's harder than it seems," said Cowen, who has played his whole career in Spokane. "The speed is different, the game is different. In the NHL you are playing for money and your family. It's a whole other level. We (the Chiefs) had a rough start to season, but we have a good coach (Don Nachbaur). He's one of the best in the league and he's good at developing players."